'Referendum on Duque': Thousands march against Colombia president

[Judi Lynn]

Indigenous groups, students and labour unions rally against the right-wing government of Ivan Duque.

by Megan Janetsky
3 hours ago



Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Bogota to protest against the country's right-wing government. [Megan Janetsky/Al Jazeera] Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Bogota to protest against the country's right-wing government. [Megan Janetsky/Al Jazeera]


Bogota, Colombia - Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through the dense city streets of Bogota and other cities across Colombia on Thursday as the country joined a wave of others in South America experiencing anti-government demonstrations.

Protesters sent out a unified cry against the right-wing administration of President Ivan Duque, whose approval ratings have plummeted amid an uptick in violence, a flailing peace process and general unrest country-wide.

What began as a peaceful demonstration, and one of the biggest in recent years, had descended into chaos by the end of the day. Police clashed with protesters throwing rocks and bottles and a cloud of tear gas hovered over the city centre.

“They’re throwing tear gas and dispersing, abusing the people,” protester Milena Riano shouted over loud crashes and the roar of the crowd running from police in riot gear. “I’m so scared because I have kids.”

More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/duque-thousands-march-colombia-president-191121173409335.html